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81

National Football League / Re: Regime; culture

« Last post by oldtimerref on April 12, 2026, 09:59:48 AM »

The NFL  has created this problem by allowing a V.P.  to run the operation unchecked. Having ex coaches as raters is almost laughable. In order to bring in new officials ,I  know of examples of several young men working high school 3 years , college next 3, then promoted to power 4 conference the next year. Several years later to NFL even if possibly not ready. I was mocked for questioning replay officials never having worked any football on the field and now if replacements are used these people are going to HELP with on field calls. The current UFL VP of officials has never been an official on the field and I would really like to see him on field even in a high school game. It would be interesting. It appears that the current situation in the NFL deals more with lawyers, unions and law suits than officiating. WHAT NEXT!!!!!

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Rules Changes Document

« Last post by Etref on April 11, 2026, 04:00:33 PM »

If this rule works like I am hoping it does, no swinging gate formation would qualify as an SKF, so they would be required to fully comply with mandatory numbering. Not illegal, but they wouldn’t qualify to use numbering exceptions.

Which hopefully might put an end to the swinging gate

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Rules Changes Document

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 11, 2026, 10:11:11 AM »

How would this work for a swinging gate formation? (I personally think it's the dumbest thing teams do in football, but I'm a ref, not a coach, so.)

If this rule works like I am hoping it does, no swinging gate formation would qualify as an SKF, so they would be required to fully comply with mandatory numbering. Not illegal, but they wouldn’t qualify to use numbering exceptions.

84

NCAA Discussion / Re: Rules Changes Document

« Last post by dammitbobby on April 11, 2026, 12:31:01 AM »

-Scrimmage kick formation numbering exceptions
They are on the right track, but they’ve left ambiguities. So, does this mean they MUST have two linemen on each side of the snapper to qualify as a SKF? If so, and they are all ineligible, regardless of numbers, then I believe the problem is solved. There are your ineligibles (regardless of their numbers).
And I hope this is the case. Team A will simply not be able to confuse Team B regarding eligibles, if they MUST have two players adjacent to the snapper, on each side of the snapper. We shall see.

How would this work for a swinging gate formation? (I personally think it's the dumbest thing teams do in football, but I'm a ref, not a coach, so.)

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Rules Changes Document

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 10, 2026, 10:45:21 PM »

2026 Rule Changes
-Targeting disqualification reduction
Don’t care. Not our problem. That’s for governing bodies to worry about. Target in a game, and you’re done for the game. That’s all we care about.

-Scrimmage kick formation numbering exceptions
They are on the right track, but they’ve left ambiguities. So, does this mean they MUST have two linemen on each side of the snapper to qualify as a SKF? If so, and they are all ineligible, regardless of numbers, then I believe the problem is solved. There are your ineligibles (regardless of their numbers).
And I hope this is the case. Team A will simply not be able to confuse Team B regarding eligibles, if they MUST have two players adjacent to the snapper, on each side of the snapper. We shall see.

-10-yard penalty for OPI. Not a fan, personally, but it is no skin off my nose. If that’s what they want, so be it.

-Play Clock after review after the 2-minute time out (play clock “freezes” where it is when stopped for the review)
The biggest problem here will be making sure the PCO pays close attention and only STOPS the play clock when the crew stops the clock for the review - and he doesn’t reset it. Hopefully, the play clock always shows up on video available to the RO, so he can get the play clock set correctly, if needed.

-UNS fouls being relaxed. No surprise. IMHO, not good for the game, but I’m not in charge. I’m guessing they’ll be able to do nearly anything they want as long as they don’t direct it at an opponent.

-Additional Replay Challenge
Where will it end?

-Fair Catch Kick
Looks like a hybrid of a kickoff and a scrimmage kick. Kickoff rules to put the ball in play, but scrimmage kick field goal rules thereafter. That should be easy enough. But, no mention of the clock. Does it start on the kick? When legally touched in the field of play? Fortunately, most of us will never see one. But, we gotta know what to do if it happens.

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National Football League / Re: Regime; culture

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 10, 2026, 10:01:39 PM »

I definitely don't disagree with you, but can you modify the above - this is a public forum, and someone will someday come across that statement, and will invariably use it to support the tinfoil hat theory that the NFL is directing officials as to the outcomes they want for games, not specific calls/no calls.

I won’t often allow myself to be censored or convinced to modify a statement. But, in this case, purely for the sake of those working in the NFL - particularly those I know - I modified my statement to clarify New York’s real-time involvement in games. No, I do not believe that New York is providing any direction to officials and ROs with respect to outcomes of games. Just that they don’t give the respect to their officials and ROs that they deserve, and trust that they know what they are doing - which they do. If New York wants to officiate the games by remote video then, best of luck to ‘em.

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National Football League / Re: Regime; culture

« Last post by dammitbobby on April 10, 2026, 06:58:33 PM »

I definitely don't disagree with you, but can you modify the above - this is a public forum, and someone will someday come across that statement, and will invariably use it to support the tinfoil hat theory that the NFL is directing officials as to the outcomes they want for games, not specific calls/no calls.

88

Texas Topics / Re: interesting $ numbers for championship game officials payments

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 10, 2026, 05:22:39 PM »

Breaking news:
Tech just announced that, yes, they will play Houston on Friday, 9/18, and they will play the Thanksgiving Day game at Jerry World vs TCU. And the official schedule has been updated since this morning to reflect that!

Etref must have had some good ‘inside information.’ 

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Down of the Day

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 10, 2026, 05:08:29 PM »

When you say B99 "slaps" the ball, I assume you mean he "bats" it., If so, this is a foul for an illegal bat, enforce from the previous spot and A will rekick from the A45, or decline and then the result of the play is a Touchback. B 1/10 B-25 , lateral position, snap
Clock is correct.

Yes (on the ruling). It might seem somewhat natural to rule a safety, since, in any other situation, batting a loose ball in the end zone is a foul, resulting in a safety. But, not on a free kick. Until the ball is possessed, the previous spot is the enforcement spot for most fouls (which includes illegal batting) DURING THE KICK on a free kick. Even though touched by B, the status of the ball was still a free kick when the batting occurred.

I try not to use a term that directly describes the action as a foul. With as little judgment as possible, I want the reader to decide if something is a foul - or not - by describing the action as accurately as possible, and in a way that leaves no doubt as to whether the action is, or is not, a foul. I would hope that everyone would rule ‘slapping’ the ball as ‘batting’ the ball.
(However, I checked for synonyms of ‘slap,’ hoping to find ‘bat,’ but didn’t. I still think officials would equate a slap, or slapping, the ball, with batting.  )

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Rules Changes Document

« Last post by ElvisLives on April 10, 2026, 04:42:39 PM »

So can you spike the ball now after a TD?

Just don’t do it ‘at’ an opponent.That will be the standard for many actions.